scubavox home
Divers & Conservation
We know that divers are all conservationists at heart. This category is devoted to diving operators and diving professionals who work to protect and enhance marine life and the marine environment.
ATMEC
Thailand
ATMEC is a marine science focused initiative by Love Wildlife Foundation, aimed at providing education in marine biology and ecology to students of all ages. ATMEC also prioritises conducting original research and conservation projects, in collaboration with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, in the Gulf of Thailand. The field station is based at Koh Mun Nai, Rayong. Current research projects include studying coral spawning and recruitment, investigating several new species of marine invertebrates, assessing threats to coral reefs from sedimentation to discarded fishing gear, and much more. Education includes dive training, marine ecology courses, and internships.
Barefoot Conservation
Bali, Indonesia
Barefoot Conservation is a not-for-profit organisation that runs marine conservation and community based volunteer projects in Indonesia. Their focus is on grass roots conservation and community action, with the aim of engaging, educating and empowering the local community 'to make sustainable conservation a way of life, not just a project'. Their programme includes coral reef monitoring, Manta Ray research, and the elimination of Crown of Thorns starfish which are destroying coral reefs. Their main project is on the island of Arborek in Raja Ampat Regency, in the West Papua province of Indonesia.
Big Blue Conservation
Thailand
Big Blue Conservation aims to protect the Koh Tao ecosystem in Thailand, and to inspire and build a global team of conservationists through education. As a marine conservation school, they actively contribute to pioneering marine research, with ongoing field research like diver-related reef damage, the impact of discarded nets on the reefs, and the recovery of corals from mass bleaching events. With a team dedicated to such scientific research, they work at formulating the policies and guidelines required to protect coral reefs for the future.
Blue Corner Marine Research
Bali, Indonesia
Blue Corner Marine Research is a conservation organization specializing in scientific diver training, coral restoration and reef health monitoring. They have established an extensive coral restoration project in the Nusa Pendia Marine Park, where interns and divers can work with the conservation team.
Blue Ventures
UK
Blue Ventures works at catalysing and sustaining marine conservation projects led by locals in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures and economies, and are committed to protecting marine biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people. Based in the UK, they operate in Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Comoros, Kenya, Belize, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guines (PNG), Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. In Madagascar they have created the largest LLMA (Locally Managed Marine Area) in the Indian Ocean. Amongst their many projects, their aquaculture projects include growing seagrass and sea cucumbers. At the same time they offer volunteering opportunities. Blue Ventures is increasingly active in all facets of marine conservation, and highly effective in achieving positive change in local communities.
Bracenet.net
Germany
Bracenet describes itself as a upcycling company. Alongside several partners such as Ghost Diving and Healthy Seas, they collect ghost fishing gear from the ocean floor, and transform this lost or discarded waste into useful products, in the process raising considerable funds for marine conservation projects. Initially known for their Bracenet bracelets, their range now includes other jewellery, bags, key chains, dog leashes, camera accessories, amongst others. Their motto: 'Save the seas, Wear a net'.
Cape RADD
South Africa
Cape RADD is a marine field station that serves as a platform for researchers in the Cape Town and False Bay area of South Africa. They facilitate SCUBA and freediving training courses for individuals who want to learn more about the marine environment, conservation and research through hands on field experience and diver development. Their courses include training in multiple data collection and field operation techniques, and theoretical workshops and presentations from field biologists and dive experts. They also run a volunteer programme focusing of citizen science research, community awareness, conservation projects and educational outreach.
Conservation Diver Foundation
USA
Conservation Diver supports the conservation of marine resources through various training programs in coral reef research, restoration, and protection. Their slogan is "Training the next generation of marine conservationists". They have training centres in Thailand, Nicaragua, Indonesia and the Azores, Portugal, with several new centres due to open shortly (2022), including in Madagascar and Hawaii.
Coral Cay Conservation
UK
Since 1986 Coral Cay Conservation has worked in 14 countries, on over 17 projects, and are internationally awarded for their achievements in environmental conservation. They have a field base in Egypt. Operating in Asia, Central America, and Africa, one of their many initiatives was the Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project in Philippines (2002-2020). They facilitate volunteer work on projects globally.
Coral Restoration Foundation
USA
Coral Restoration Foundation works to restore our coral reefs, educating others on the importance of our oceans, and using science to further research and monitoring techniques. They are dedicated to creating offshore nurseries and restoration programs for threatened coral species, allowing them to take the lead in innovative nursery and restoration techniques that are implemented worldwide. They have an Exploration Center at Key Largo, Florida.
Coral Soul
Spain
Coral Soul is a multidisciplinary team of marine scientists and divers who work on the restoration of coral reefs. For a year they have been working to recover the Punta de la Mona reef with great results. The ecosystem, which is situated near La Herradura in Malaga province, is one of the most biodiverse spots in the Mediterranean, including a population of candlestick coral that is unique in the world.
DEEPWAVE e.V
Germany
DEEPWAVE e.V. was founded in 2003 by the marine biologist and deep sea researcher Onno Groß and a small group of ocean enthusiasts in Hamburg. Since then, it has successfully campaigned regionally and internationally for the protection of the oceans and their inhabitants. DEEPWAVE's goal is to contribute to the development of environmentally friendly structures for the marine ecosystem, as well as to inspire individuals to conserve the oceans. They do this by raising awareness of the threats to the oceans, spreading scientific knowledge, contributing to improve marine policies, and providing a forum for networking.